Feature: TEDx will bring the brightest minds to Leamington

Some of the brightest minds in Warwickshire and beyond will assemble in Leamington this coming winter at an event based on highly regarded international conferences.

The inaugural TEDxLeamingtonSpa event will take place at the Spa Centre on Saturday November 21.

It is based on the annual TED (short for Technology Entertainment and Design) Conferences which invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less.

Speakers, performers, innovators, researchers and attendees will explore the theme of ‘Courageous Creations’ including what it means to create, what they have created and why, and the science behind creativity.

The event, which has been planned since January, is being organised and run completely by a team of Leamington-based volunteers, who hail from as far and wide as the USA, Romania and Ireland.

It is being led by director Ryan Hildebrandt, a 29-year-old freelance engineer from Calgary in Canada who has lived and worked in the UK for the past few years.

TEDxLeamingtonSpa logo.

“It just goes to show how innovative and creative Leamington is as a town.

“We started the event as a way for curious, smart, people to learn and talk about ideas.

“Where else can you be educated and entertained by some of the leading thought leaders in the area all at the same time?”

Where else can you be educated and entertained by some of the leading thought leaders in the area all at the same time?

Ryan Hildebrant

TedxLeamingtonSpa is a non-profit venture with any money made being used to fund the event itself and future events.

It does not support any company, political party, or charity.

Speakers are not paid.

The deadline for speakers to apply has now passed and the two-month long selection process, for which the organisers will have to pick from a long list, is under way.

But the team is still looking for performers, including magicians, dancers, musicians, poets and more to take part.

Details of how to apply are on the event’s website.

As space is limited and the audience for TED talks is very strong worldwide - with some 120 million views for locally-organised TEDx talks alone - those interested in attending are advised to join the email list at www.TEDxLeamingtonSpa.com for event announcements, including speaker lineup, programme and ticket sales.

The ticket price is yet to be decided but those on the email list will have the opportunity to buy them a week before they go on general sale.

The organisers have said the event is very likely to sell out.

All talks will be available online for free after the event for those who are not able to buy tickets.

Ryan said: “We won’t be live streaming - we strongly believe that you’ll get the most benefit from being at the event not only to hear the talks with the atmosphere in the room, but more so to engage with others who are there.

“They’ll be some of the most interesting, accomplished, creative, and curious people in the area from all different industries and walks of life.”

The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver along with the TEDActive simulcast event in nearby Whistler.

The annual TEDGlobal conference will be held in Rio de Janeiro in October. TED has established the annual TED Prize (where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action) - TEDx, and the TED Fellows programme, which helps world-changing innovators to amplify the impact of their remarkable activities.